Monthly Archives: August 2017
The ‘Being Me’ Series by Tricia Copeland (Author Showcase)
Have you ever chosen a path that led you astray?
Amanda has no trouble choosing a college or picking a major. What she does have a problem with is what she would have least expected, a guy. Smart and sexy, Doug is focused on school responsibilities and post-graduation plans. Their paths intersect and Amanda must accept his help or risk losing her scholarship. Determined to maintain appearances, Amanda begins to lie to family and friends. The ease at which she repeatedly deceives those closest becomes disturbing and leaves her questioning: “Is this me?”
Can Amanda find her way out of her contrived world?
https://animoto.com/play/xK7Un37Uo9vPFMnUDcnhrQ
After the happily ever after…
Did you ever wonder what the family thinks when the girl rides away with her prince? Amanda’s parents think she’s abandoned her friends, goals, even morals to be with Doug. The assessment is ludicrous, but Amanda can’t convince them otherwise. Their disapproval undermines her self-confidence and she is determined to prove them wrong. To make things worse, Doug has a huge roadblock thrown in his path. Amanda isn’t able to talk about the situation with anyone except Zack, her ex-boyfriend. Can she endure the strain of keeping Doug’s secret? Can her already fragile psyche survive a whole summer with parents who condemn everything she does? Amanda begins to doubt she can, and there’s no castle, no fairy godmother, no magic wand to rescue her.
https://animoto.com/play/kxiQLMw0QOwGAT4Zfsadgw
March 20
This isn’t fair! Isn’t it enough that I see his image every time I close my eyes? That I hear her words echo in my dreams? Now his face is immortalized on a front page? How much worse can it get? My rage and guilt are just as raw as if it were yesterday. I can’t let him control my feelings. He can’t win. I won’t let him.
–Amanda
Amanda’s first year of college is fraught with drama and parental scrutiny. With her relationship secure and a clean break from her parents, all she wants is a normal term. But fate steps in and deals a shattering blow. You Don’t Know Me will keep you guessing from the first chapter.
https://animoto.com/play/m1oeGg1smsKQIwhuX0ZZAg
“The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.”-The Great Gatsby
In attempt to manage her rage and shame after a violent assault, Amanda loses touch with reality. Her spiraling physical state forces her to act or die. To face her demons, she must revisit the emotions she ran from in the first place. Still unsure of what life she wants, but determined to pick up the pieces, she seeks out the right path. Can she mend broken bonds with her friends and family? Will her epic love survive? Find out in this roller coaster finale of the Being Me series.
https://animoto.com/play/b33nboN4K5YSfc6jNxsq1g
Tricia Copeland grew up in Georgia but now lives outside the mile-high city of Denver, Colorado. She not only draws from personal experiences, but creates adventures and fantastical journeys for her characters. She feels it is important to portray bravery in the face of turmoil and challenge.
Her contemporary romance Being Me Series includes the novels Is This Me?, If I Could Fly, Think You Me, and the finale,Being Me. These new adult books follow a college co-ed named Amanda, from her freshman year to her senior year, as she navigates a huge crush, first love, and an intense personal tragedy. More than just romance novels, the series chronicles a young adult’s journey, diving into coming of age, personal growth, and recovery themes.
Tricia also writes in the young adult space. Her first YA paranormal work, entitled Drops of Sunshine, features Nina who hopes to escape her family drama at a summer camp for the visually-challenged. Problems ensue when she realizes the campers can hear her thoughts. This novella is available free in Spellbound, a summer themed anthology of YA stories. Tricia’s second YA work, a dystopian tale featuring Jema and Troy, is entitled Lovelock Ones: Native One, and can be found in The Butterfly Box. In addition to Native One, The Butterfly Box includes seven adult healing themed novellas. All proceeds from this anthology benefit Doctors Without Borders. A follow up to Native One, Bred One, will be available January of 2018!
Copeland’s latest books are the YA paranormal fantasy romance, Kingdom Journals Series, including Kingdom of Embers and Kingdom of Darkness. In the first journal, you read a first-person account of a modern-day vampire-witch hybrid named Alena who finds her soul-mate, Hunter, who realizes he is a witch. The second, gives a glimpse into the mind of a girl who believes she suffers from schizophrenia. Camille discovers, she is the witch of the trinity, destined to break the curses put on the witch and vampire species. The third and fourth books of the series, Kingdom of Honor and Kingdom of War, are due out in September of 2017 and June of 2018, respectively.
An avid runner and paranormal fan, Tricia enjoys hiking, trivia, and Scrabble. You can connect with Tricia and other readers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find all of Tricia’s books on her website at www.triciacopeland.com!
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A Witch and Her Dragons: Demon Slayers by G.E. Stills (Book Showcase)
Kiya, a witch, is devastated when her cousin is murdered. Shortly after that, she becomes acquainted with Raith who informs her this murder is a pattern of killings done by an evil demon. The only lead is all the murders are connected with a band called Lusty Desires. Kiya vows to avenge the murder of her cousin and seeks out the help of the goddess Nyx to increase her witch powers. Nyx provides those powers but drastically changes Kiya in the process. The team of Kiya and Raith begin following the band and because of her financial background, Kiya becomes the band’s manager. The position provides an excellent reason for being with the band while the team searches for the demon.
Before you read the excerpt from A Witch and Her Dragons, I wanted to post a quick………….
This story is intended for 18+ readers due to strong language, descriptive sex scenes and graphic violence.
~ Excerpt ~
The all-night orgy of the band and their groupies is winding down and Kiya decides it’s time to go down to her room and sleep.
Kiya stifled a yawn and glanced at her watch. It was close to two in the afternoon. She finished her drink, stepped around the bar, and opened one of the drawers there. Kiya smiled when she spotted the extra keycard to her room attached to a lariat. She’d given it to Rudy when they’d checked in, knowing that at this party she’d be naked and have nowhere to keep it. There was another card there and she knew that one belonged to Kaley.
Kiya gazed around and saw there were a few diehards still fucking, Micca was one of them, but most of the guests and band members had succumbed to exhaustion. Rudy was another of the diehards. He crossed the room, his cock hanging limp from recent use and joined her at the bar. He fixed himself a drink, then asked her, “Wanna fuck some more, Kiya babe?”
She shook her head. “We already have, three times today. I’m tired and sore. Besides, I just saw you pounding that weapon of lady destruction between your legs into Micca’s pussy a few minutes ago and you’re limp.”
“Micca is a great fuck. I’ve sampled both her pussy and ass today. But you, my lusty lover, are better. And as for my limpness, those lips of yours are talented in other ways than kissing, I’m certain I would get hard for you in no time. If you want to go down to your room to fuck, I’m game.”
Kiya rolled her eyes. She placed one of the obligatory morning after pills on her tongue and made a point of having Rudy watch her wash it down with a drink of water. “We certainly can’t take a chance of me giving birth to a little Rudy.” She winked at him. “Goddess forbid that from ever happening.”
“I thought you told me you couldn’t get—”
“I can’t, I was just teasing you. Rudy, I’m going down to my room to sleep. Now be a good boy and go pass out somewhere.”
She placed the lariat over her head and stumbled on wobbly legs toward the elevator. In the foyer, she found her bag lined up with the others and picked it up. To her consternation, she found her clothing was missing. Kiya had a strong suspicion she knew who was responsible for the missing items and why they had been removed.
I am not going to stay up here in the penthouse with you, Rudy. When the doors slid open, she stepped into the car and selected her floor. Now if I can just get into my room without someone seeing me wearing nothing but my birthday suit. She was especially afraid she would run into Raith because his room was on the same floor and just a few doors down from hers.
Kiya sighed in relief when the door to her room closed behind her and she hadn’t encountered anyone. She pulled the lariat over her head and tossed it along with the small bag on the dresser top. Pulling the coverlet on her bed down exposed the crisp and inviting sheets. She pitched face down onto them and lay across the bed quickly drifting to sleep.
A knock on the door brought her fully alert. “I told him I was coming down here to sleep,” Kiya grumbled as she prepared to pin his ears back. Not even thinking of her undressed condition, she thrust the door open. Kaley, just as unclothed, stood in the hall facing her.
“God you’re so beautiful, Kiya. You always are, but when you’re all naked and glowing from being freshly fucked, you’re stunning.”
“Kaley hon, I’m tired, too tired to even think of having sex.”
“I’m tired, too, Kiya, I just want to sleep, but I don’t feel like sleeping alone. Will you let me stay with you?”
Kiya stood aside and ushered Kaley in. The two of them sprawled out on the bed and Kaley started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Kiya asked.
“When I was coming down the hall, a handsome guy stepped out of his room and bumped into me. You should’ve seen his eyes grow wide when he saw I wasn’t wearing a damn stitch of clothing.”
“Oh goddess, what happened then?”
“Being my bashful self.” A grin stretched Kaley’s lips. “I spread my arms and legs and posed, providing him a full frontal view while telling him to take a picture to use for masturbation later.”
“Oh Gods, Kaley, you’re so bad. What did he do next?”
“He just shook his head, stepped back into his room, and closed the door. My hair is a fright and I reek of sex…but still I’m freaking naked. I guess he doesn’t like women, or at least he doesn’t like this one.”
“Maybe he was in shock. You don’t step out of your room into a naked woman normally, then have her brazenly display herself for you.”
“I guess not. But still, I’m freaking naked.”
In a short time, their laughter died away, and they surrendered to exhausted slumber.
G.E. Stills is zany but has a serious side. He lives in the southwest with a wife and two fur babies. He cares deeply for his friends and hasn’t met an animal yet he didn’t like. He lives in the southwest but often longs to live by the sea. He frequently says, “We have the sandy beaches but where is the water?”
Most days will find him hovering over his keyboard putting to words the stories of the many characters that pace into his mind. Their tales are both serious and humorous. A multi-published author, his stories cover many genres including contemporary, paranormal, and science fiction. Most of his stories have action, adventure, and humor. Some of them are erotic and some are not, but all have romance. His paranormal stories normally involve witches, demons or vampires with an occasional shape shifter thrown in for good measure.
G.E. Stills loves to hear from his readers and can be contacted at any of these sites.
Website / Blog / Youtube
Personal Facebook Page / Facebook Author Page
Twitter / Amazon Author Page / Goodreads / Google+
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Author Showcase / Interview – Jay A. Blum (Over the Ocean and to the Links: A Golfer’s Journey)
Welcome, Jay A. Blum!
- Welcome, For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
(Jay) I have always been an avid reader, devouring anything I can get my hands on. In 2009 my step-father used his 401K to play golf on Scotland’s link courses. When he came home, he began telling us all these great stories and I told him he should write a book. Well he did and gave it to me for review. It was less than perfect and I asked him if I could rewrite it for him. I did and “Over The Ocean and to the Links: A Golfer’s Journey” was born. Now I have an additional three books in various stages of completion. It is taking me a little longer to write these book as I recently lost 90% of my vision in June of 2017.
(Kam) I’m sorry for all that you’ve endured but I’m thrilled to see it hasn’t deterred you from reaching and taking hold of your dreams!
- Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
(Jay) I don’t know any author that never had writer’s block. The way that I write is free-flowing. I used to sit at the computer and stare at the keyboard and whatever came to mind I would write, then proof, edit and rewrite the next day if needed. Now that I do less typing and more talking to the computer to do my writing, sometimes the speech-to-text software has a hard time keeping up and I often lose that train of thought. When it happens, I walk away from the computer, hang out with my son and forget about the book. Within a day or two, mostly less, my brain refocuses in the background and I race to the computer to start again.
- Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
(Jay) When I am not writing, I spend as much time with my Wife and Son as possible. At 47 years old, I have a limited time on this earth as I lost both of my kidneys and my sight to cancer. When not writing and spending my time with family, I am in a dialysis chair trying to stay alive to continue to be with my family and to continue to write. I have a lot of stories in my head, and a lot to say. So when not writing I do everything I can to say alive, enjoy life, live, love and write my behind off.
(Kam) I am in awe of your strength and positive attitude towards life. So many people would’ve rolled over and let life pass them by. I am happy to see you are not wasting a moment. Others will be inspired by your bravery and it’ll give them incentive to NEVER LOSE HOPE. KEEP FIGHTING! I wish you many more years with your family.
- I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?
(Jay) Everyone that is dear to me knows that I am a writer. Once I lost my sight, they became even more encouraging while some were shocked that I could still do it since they didn’t know about speech-to-text software or any of the other augmentative equipment I have had to acquire, at great expense, to continue writing. My friends and family are very pleased that I have found my post cancer passion and they have embraced my efforts as much as I have embraced my passion for story telling.
(Kam) Amazing!
- Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
(Jay) You are right, it is hard to limit it to just ten as there are so many great wordsmiths out there. If I have to pick a favorite it would be Brad Thor. Followed by Clive Cussler, Jay Allen, Daniel Arenson, Larry Bond, Me, Dale Brown, Elle Casey, Arthur C. Clark and a ton of Indie authors that I wish I could name them here.
(Kam) I’ll have to check them out. Thank you!
- If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
(Jay) I just finished an awesome book by Indie author Arthur David titled “Agents of the Third Party: The Beginning”. I think it would be cool to see Maggie Q as Blackmail and Piper Perabo as Jade.
The Third Party is a secret organization dedicated to moving humanity towards a future of peace and prosperity. A future where hunger, poverty, and war no longer exist. An organization so dedicated to its ideals that it is made up of spies, saboteurs and assassins for whom the ends justify the means, no matter how atrocious. BlackMail has spent her entire adult life dedicated to the cause of The Party. She has lived her life knowing that she is working for the greater good of humanity and the world, and it doesn’t matter how they achieve that. Her dedication has made her one of The Party’s top agents, and The Party has tasked her with training a young woman, Jade, who they believe will become The Party’s next top agent. When The Party sends them on a mission that goes horribly wrong it will forever change BlackMail, Jade, and The Third Party.
- Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
(Jay) As I said previously, I have three books currently in some form in production. One is about my will to live and my fight against kidney cancer, doctors, hospitals and my own mind titled “I Want To Live”. The other, also stemming from disappointment is titled “When Religion Failed Us”. This is a compilation of stories from people all over the globe, interwoven within my own issues and really takes a hard look at organized religion. The third book goes back to my roots and is, as of yet, untitled and hopefully begins a series of fresh and relevant espionage / counterespionage thrillers.
- Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
(Jay) Thankfully, my books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads, Kobo and a slew of independent sites out there. I even found one of my signed copies of “Over The Ocean and to the Links: A Golfer’s Journey” on E-Bay that was sold at auction for $67.09. Pretty cool.
- Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
(Jay) This a great question as I truly love talking with readers. Some of these conversions translate into story ideas or I name characters after them. I can be reached in many ways. They include my BLOG: www.jayablum.com, Facebook: @AuthorJayABlum, Twitter: @AuthorJayABlum, LinkedIn: JayABlum, Instagram: Author_Jay_A_Blum, and Pinterest: JayABlumAuthor
- Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
(Jay) I would like to thank my gracious host for allowing me to talk about myself, my inner thoughts and demons, oh and my books too. I would really like to thank all of the readers that downloaded “Over The Ocean and to the Links: A Golfer’s Journey” which brought it to #5 in its category in May of 2017. Thank you for all the Twitter messages, Facebook posts, emails and really great book reviews. I may be blind but I read them all and answer as many as I can and still be able to write and attend dialysis. On a really personal note I want you to know that no matter what obstacle is thrown in your way, mine being cancer, dialysis and blindness, ever push you off the path to fulfilling your dreams. Sure you can be depressed and curl up in a ball why cursing the world around you. I certainly did. But, one morning I woke up and told myself that I was done wasting energy on something that I cannot change. This is who I am now and there isn’t a doctor in the world that can tell me how much time I have left. I pulled my head out of my behind and told myself that I was going to move forward with my dreams and concentrate on today. As suck I now live every moment as if it will be my last, I sing like no one is listening, dance like no one is watching and love life, my family, and friends until my heart explodes. Keep that mindset and there isn’t anything you cant accomplish; no matter what is thrown in your path. Thank you for your time and follow your dreams.
A hilarious story of a simple man that blows his minuscule IRA to play some of the world’s famous golf courses in the home of Golf, Scotland. Stubborn as Jeff is, he knew he could do better than the “golf tours” offered by many companies. As a result, the book is a tee by tee description of Jeff’s trip from deciding which courses to play, how much he wanted to spend, the trials of driving on the wrong side of the road, and the simple beauty of Scotland. Here is my story. – Jeff Foulk
Jay, I have read dozens upon dozens of interviews and your personal story has left an imprint on me and I think it will leave a lasting mark on others as well. You are an inspiration to others battling illnesses, who’ve suffered the loss of a sense, an internal or external part of their body, and so forth. You keep fighting every day. You haven’t given up and that determination will pave the road for others to keep moving forward, through the hard days.
I’m thankful to have “met” you and I wish you a long life full of happy, peaceful days.
Kam
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Author Showcase – Jo Zebedee
Amy was five when she vanished during a family trip, only to be found hours later, clutching a golden acorn and claiming to have visited fairies. Now she’s eighteen, and the fairies are calling her back.
While attending a wedding deep in the Antrim glens, the voices grow darker and their song takes hold. Not sure if she’s mad or if the fairies are real, she flees, drawing well-meaning Simon into her fairy-fuelled road trip.
To escape their hold, she must confront long-hidden secrets, and find a truth which may not be hers to unearth.
But, even then, the fairies may not let her go…
If there’s a line between fantasy and madness, then Jo Zebedee’s characters are dragged kicking and screaming across it. A dark fable about belonging that is rooted as deeply in Northern Ireland as it is in the fantasy genre, with shades of Graham Joyce thrown in for good measure. – Stephen Poore, Longlist Gemmell Award
Waters and the Wild had me in suspense from the first page to the last. Ancient legends meet the modern world in a powerful tale of haunting ambiguities. – Teresa Edgerton, author of the Green Lion Trilogy
Waters and the Wild is a sinister, heart-stopping tale of fairy abduction in the beautiful glens of Antrim. You need it. So read it. – Peadar O’Guilin, Author of The Call
The alien invasion is over. Humanity lost.
In Belfast, John Dray protects his younger siblings by working for the local hard man. Set up, he’s sent to the formidable alien prison, Inish Carraig, a fate Henry Carter, the policeman assigned to John, can’t stop.
Once there, John discovers a plot which threatens Earth and everyone he loves. To reveal it, he has to get out and there is only one person who can help.
A bestseller in Alien Invasion, Inish Carraig is an original science fiction novel ‘blessed with an entirely novel storyline’ Alexander Stevenson-
‘A thoughtful and intelligent writer’ – Allen Stroud, British Science Fiction Association reviewer
An exceptional novel. The pace is incredible with hard hitting characters and a powerful plot.’ Sffchronices.com
‘Tight and dramatic throughout.’ Sfbook.com
‘Onto my pile of best novels of the year.’ JLDobias, author of the Cripple Mode series.
Audible – Unabridged Link (US)
Audible – Unabridged Link (UK)
“If Kare could, he’d walk away, useless to anyone. Except – he looked at the thin ribbon of blue vein on his wrist – they’d have to take his blood, too.”
Kare doesn’t want to inherit his mother’s galactic Empire. He, more than anyone, knows the cruelty she is capable of. But there is no one else who can stand against her.
From hunted child, to the agony of being his mother’s captive, his life has never been his own.
His destiny lies in the Empress’s city of Abendau. There, he faced her torture chambers, his mind picked apart. He’ll have to return if he is ever to forge his own future.
“Zebedee possesses the rare skills to charm you with pleasantness before choking you on tragedy” – Tim C Taylor, author of the Human Legion series.
“A bright and fresh new voice in the genre” – Francis (Julia) Knight, author of Fade to Black.
“Bravura plotting and the promise of a climatic confrontation doesn’t disappoint” – Steven Poore, author of The High King’s Vengeance.
“This is shaping up to be a series that will place the author up there with the ‘names’ in science fiction'” – Andy Angel, book reviewer.
Jo is the author of five sf and fantasy novels, based either in her native Northern Ireland or her Space Opera world of Abendau. Described as a ‘thoughtful and intelligent writer’ by the BSFA, Jo has been an Amazon bestseller across a range of categories. She also teaches writing speculative fiction and attends conventions when she can. When not writing, she runs a consultancy, runs after not-so-small-children and thinks cloning technology is the only way forward.
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